Letter from the editor
When I was young, Halloween was fun. We placed a pumpkin on the porch, picked out a costume and went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood on Oct. 31, often with a pillowcase serving as a candy bag.
That was about it. There were no 12-foot skeletons towering over front lawns, no elaborate displays or animatronics. Trunk-or-treats had not yet been invented, and community Halloween parades were less common. Halloween lasted one day, and once the candy had been collected and devoured, it was over.
By the time I became a mom though, Halloween was becoming something bigger. Schools held costume parades and classroom parties. Instead of placing one pumpkin on the porch, each family member carved their own, creating a pumpkin family on display. Decorations became more plentiful, costumes became more creative and the celebration began long before Oct. 31.
One year, we hosted a Halloween party for our children and their friends. We served gummy worms crawling through “dirt” made from crushed Oreo cookies. The children played “Wrap the Mummy,” working in pairs to cover one another in toilet paper until they resembled little mummies. It was messy, silly and fun — and best of all, memorable.
Today, Halloween has evolved into a monthlong celebration of pumpkins, hayrides and all things spooky. Beginning in early October — and sometimes even September — calendars fill with haunted attractions, costume contests, pumpkin festivals, parades and trunk-or-treats. Families visit farms for corn mazes and apple cider, while adults plan costume parties and Halloween-themed nights out on the town.
Many homes now decorate as much or even more for Halloween than they do for Christmas. Giant skeletons, inflatable ghosts, cobweb-covered porches and entire graveyards appear on lawns. What was once a one-night childhood tradition has become a full season enjoyed by all ages.
Here at the Shore, there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. This issue of Shore Local includes a Halloween event guide which we will continue to update and run in the next two issues leading up to Halloween.
Whether you are looking for family-friendly events, hayrides, parades or trunk-or-treats, the guide will help you explore the options and decide which events your family would enjoy.
Adults looking for Halloween fun should also turn to the pages of Wahoo, Shore Local’s entertainment section. You can find it outlined in yellow in the center of each edition, filled with nightlife, live entertainment and seasonal events.
We are also excited to announce that Shore Local Newsmagazine now offers a monthly subscription for readers who would enjoy the convenience of home delivery. With a subscription, each week’s newest issue will be delivered directly to your mailbox. There is a small monthly fee for this service to cover shipping and handling costs.
However, Shore Local will remain free for pickup at more than 300 distribution locations throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties. The subscription simply provides another convenient way to ensure you get a copy — especially if you do not drive or have a second residence.
Thank you for reading Shore Local and supporting locally owned community journalism. Whether you pick us up around town or welcome us into your mailbox, we look forward to continuing to bring you community news you can count on.
Peace & Love, Cindy
